] ] What was IT's real motive and object? Just to get them to notice her, or to force an acquaintence do you think?

] Is this not part of the big game that many a girl - and boy - has been playing since the stone ages? You are very interested in the opposite sex and half ashamed to admit it openly. but any little incident can be blown out of proportion to amuse yourself and your girlfriends.

Jane's characters always put my past (and often my present) person to shame.

Talking to self: 'Why did I do that? Can you imagine how I would look in a JA novel?' :)

] It is just that Catherine obviously never did this and she doesn't get it. I will admit that at 21 Isabella ought to have grown out of this behaviour. She is such a decided flirt! ;-)

IMHO, Catherine is being praised by Jane for this. Not for ignorance itself, but there are definitely some things that are good to be ignorant of! I think putting IT alongside the sensible (except for novels!) and proper Catherine really shows how ridiculous IT is. Catherine has no idea what IT is doing, because she has never wasted time being false, coquettish, flighty, affected, etc.